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Monday: Mind/Spirit
Tuesday: Metabolic/Endocrine
Wednesday: Cardiovascular
Thursday: Women
Friday: Diet/Nutrition
Saturday: Leadership
Sunday: Superfoods

Get Your Heart Pumping!

2/6/2013

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You don't need fancy equipment or an expensive gym membership!
Improve your mood, strengthen your muscles, clarify your mind, and energize your spirit!

My 45 minutes outside in the brisk air motivates me for my entire day. All the tools you need you already have. The choice to begin will be the obstacle that rewards you with opportunity!

Choose movement you find to be the most effective, efficient, and adaptable for you today.

Two word mantra for today: Just Move! Jab the obstacle and feel the love! Spread the word! To your health...
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Set An Example

1/28/2013

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Get Moving. My Nephew and I Share a Love of Walking, Talking, and Nature! Just Do It!
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Tone those Thighs

1/24/2013

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Great Thigh Workout!
My most resistant area to shape up on my body are my thighs! Being a sprinter and basketball player for a good chunk of my life, I knew I would always have muscle in this area but keeping it toned was another story. I have found specific exercises to target the muscles on the outer thigh, inner thigh, and buttocks that are very effective. In addition to at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 5 times a week, these are the exercises that help me stay toned:
1.  Side jumps: Jump back and forth laterally with your feet together for 1 minute. Soft knees and easy landing. Repeat twice.
2.  Lateral leg raises. Standing, raise your leg laterally. Hold at the top and lower slowly. 20 reps. Switch legs. Repeat 1-2 times.
3.  Leg circles. Lay on your back. Raise one leg into the air and trace a small circle with your foot. Clockwise for 10 reps then repeat counterclockwise for 10. Switch to the other leg. Repeat 1-2 times.  
4.  Squats. I think you know what these are. Make sure to stick your rear out to keep your back flat and push up through your heels. This will target the back of the leg and buttocks most effectively. 12 reps. Repeat 3 times.
5.  Reverse Lunges.  Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Step back with one foot and and lunge into the front leg. Keep you knee over your foot and practice good technique as to not pressure the knee. 12 reps. Switch legs. Repeat 1-2 times.

Toning is an essential part of a physical regimen. We each have that area on our bodies where fat is more readily stored depending upon your body type. Recognize this and target toning exercises to work this area a little more than the rest. Know your body to best take care of it. For women, it is healthy and natural to store added fat on the thighs;  Much more than on the stomach. Added cushion at the thigh area is often a sign of balanced hormones for a woman. Embrace your body and know where to target just a little bit more than the rest. Hope this helps! Empowered, Individualized Choices...To your health!

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Tired? Irritable? Cold?

1/2/2013

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Iron is necessary to ensure oxygen delivery to every cell in your body. Do you have low energy? Feel tired? Have trouble sleeping? Are you replenishing your iron stores to ensure you have oxygen for times of stress and illness? I do not have to explain why our bodies need oxygen. Low levels can manifest slowly as headaches, sexual dysfunction, irritability, swelling of the tongue, brittle nails, and lack luster hair to just name a few.

Iron can be obtained from your diet. Some examples of dietary sources include: red meat, lima beans, kale, spinach, watermelon, beets, prunes, clams, almonds, and chlorophyll. Check with your doctor if you need further supplementation.

Keep in mind just like any food you can consume it but are you absorbing the necessary nutrients? The tannins in tea, polyphenols on coffee, phosphates in soda, and calcium if taken within two hours of an iron supplement all impair iron absorption.

You subsequently can also increase iron absorption by combining foods rich in vitamin C (tomatoes, peppers, green veggies, citrus fruits) with iron rich foods.

I routinely boost my iron stores. Sometimes in the winter my lips crack in the corners. When I consciously increase my iron intake, I am able to avoid this. Women especially need to be aware of the benefits of iron very month. Your immune system will thank you. Prevention is the treatment!

One other tidbit I wish I knew earlier is if you aren't ensuring oxygen stores you will burn carbohydrates first instead of fat during exercise as it takes less oxygen to burn carbs. If you are exercising for weight loss ensure your body has plenty of iron.

Oxygen, oxygen, oxygen! The key to optimal wellness :)

A bit of information, to your health! Explore Iron! Questions welcome!

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Loving 12-31-12

12/31/2012

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Lets make some changes that affect others as well. See beyond exercise, food, and external issues; and just maybe the pieces will fall into place.  Start with basics of loving more, listening more, helping more, and life becomes easier.  Attitude is everything!  How will you start 2013? Be present and let's see what happens.  All the best to all of you! 

I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.--Albert Einstein
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Diabetes:Prevention and Treatment

12/18/2012

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One way to reduce and control blood sugar is to reduce and control stress.  When the body releases cortisol in response to stress, fat and glucose are released into the bloodstream to have energy available to fight or flight.  When this energy is not utilized it is stored as fat, but in the case of a diabetic the glucose stays in the bloodstream, resulting in high blood sugar.  High blood sugar destroys eyes, nerves, gut, kidneys, and other vital organ systems. 


Taking a walk for just 20 minutes and deep breathing every day will reduce stress and in return reduce blood sugar or prevent blood sugar from spiking.   Many studies have found regular meditation to be beneficial in controlling blood sugar.  If you are like me, when I am walking peacefully, I am meditating.  The mind and body are ONE. 


When blood sugar is reduced and/or kept within normal range, diabetes is well controlled and/or prevented.  Find ways to reduce the stress in your life.  What works for you?  Please explore your own mind and body.  Your body is the best thing you will ever own. 


To avoid medication is to avoid potential side effects, drug interactions, other medications, and cost.  Stress reduction may even result in medication reduction.  Preserve your blood sugar levels and prevent stress from disrupting your lifestyle.  Message me with questions!  To Your Health! <3

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    Dr. Jessica Lewis

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